A total of eight suspects were arrested on charges of public violence, resisting arrest and assault after an altercation erupted when authorities followed up on a complaint of people drinking in vehicles along Beach Road in Strand.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Law Enforcement caravan, where the landmark Deep Blue was once located, on Saturday (28 January). It resulted in a section of Beach Road being cordoned off for almost an hour with motorists redirected to alternative routes.
According to Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement, traffic and Metro Police officers responded to the complaint and on arrival found some members of the public were under the influence of alcohol and had become riotous and formed a crowd. The officers were allegedly assaulted and had to call for assistance.
“Bottles of liquor were thrown at the officers in an attempt to stop them from confiscating their liquor,” Dyason said. “One person attempted to evade arrest and ran away. During that time he injured himself while resisting arrest.”
Dyason added the injured individual received medical attention at a Somerset West hospital and was discharged the same day.
Furthermore, five men and three women were arrested for public violence, resisting arrest and assault.
Strand police confirmed the incident, which occurred around 13:00, and the arrest of altogether eight suspects – five men aged 35, three 30-, 27- and 31-year-olds as well as two women, 46, 22 and 28. The suspects were expected to appear in Strand Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (31 January). The court outcome was still unknown at the time of going to print.
Dyason further confirmed 38 units of alcohol with an estimated value of about R600 was confiscated, a large amount of alcohol was destroyed by the perpetrators during the attack on the officers.
“This was an unpredicted incident and officers will be deployed at our beaches to prevent these type of incidents and to confiscate liquor, as it is not allowed at the beaches,” said Dyason, adding that future incidents will be prevented by deployment of officers making sure no alcohol is introduced or consumed at the beach, and enough visibility of enforcement agencies.
“The City is clear about the consumption of alcohol on beaches – it is illegal, will not be allowed and alcohol will be confiscated. The City constantly, and especially over the festive season, communicated this via various media releases.”
